365Crypto
Visa Dives Into Stablecoins
Visa has rolled out a new pilot that lets banks use stablecoins to send instant cross-border payments. The test, revealed at SIBOS 2025, uses Circle’s USDC and EURC. These tokens act as digital cash, allowing partners to pre-fund transfers without relying on old banking rails.
Chris Newkirk, head of Visa’s commercial money movement division, said current global payment systems are outdated. He claimed stablecoins could reduce costs, free up capital, and make money move “at the speed of the internet.”
The Pilot Program
The initiative targets banks, remittance firms, and financial institutions. Instead of tying up fiat in multiple corridors, they can load Visa Direct with stablecoins. Visa treats these tokens as cash equivalents for starting payouts.
Stablecoin funding could cut exposure to currency swings and keep money flowing even after business hours. It also gives treasurers more predictable liquidity.
Market Potential
Visa has already settled $225 million in stablecoin volume. While tiny compared to its $16 trillion yearly flow, the company expects much bigger adoption by 2026. The stablecoin market itself has a cap above $307 billion, showing the demand is there.
Competition Heats Up
Visa’s move came just a day after Swift announced a blockchain settlement platform with Consensys and 30+ financial partners. Meanwhile, startups like RedotPay and Bastion are pulling in millions to scale stablecoin payments. The race to modernize cross-border money is clearly on.
*Stablecoins = cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar or euro, designed to avoid big price swings.
